The group met 0 times this reporting period.
Recent Activities
First Activity
Advised on the development of a new PLA/Microsoft initiative launched in May 2020, which is providing 80+ library sites with WiFi access points to extend signals during and beyond COVID closures.
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice, Organizational Excellence
Second Activity
Since the pandemic, PLA has been promoting DigitalLearn.org on-demand content and services available to members so they can increase their own and their patronsâ digital skills to succeed in a virtual environment.
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Advocacy and Awareness, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice, Leadership
What will your group be working on for the next six months?
Creating a plan for updating the Tech Classes available on DigitalLearn.org.
Creating user pathways for DigitalLearn website based on role (user, instructor, and researcher) and add resources for the researcher role.
Brandy McNeil and Chelsea Jordan-Makely will be presenting a session on digital literacy skills at the Computers in Libraries virtual conference in September (rescheduled from March).
Does the group have any policy recommendations, ideas with financial impact, or other items to bring to the PLA Board for discussion or action
Not at this time. Keep advocating for broadband internet access to become a public utility!
Do you have any suggestions for future products or resources (excluding conference programs) to be developed based on your group’s work?
A digital services internship with PLA would be wonderful. Our idea is to work with the ALA accredited library schools to create a âvirtualâ internship where students could get course credit for helping to vet, update, and manage content on DigitalLearn.org. This could include both the eLearning modules as well as the instructor materials.
Create a DigitalLearn.org Technology Competency learning and evaluation module to add to the Tools for Trainers site for library staffersâ to be able to acquire and test technology competencies.
Monetize Digitallearn.org with different usage categories.
Are there other PLA/ALA committees your group might collaborate with to benefit the work of all?
LITA. Perhaps some of their members would be willing to work with us to help create an evaluation tool for tech competencies?
Have there been any issues related to meeting participation/attendance for any of the group’s members?
Yes (if yes, PLA will contact you for more information)
Is there anything PLA could have provided during this time that would have helped your group with its work?
No. We had to suspend all committee activities during the last 5 months due to COVID and the need to focus on our individual libraries (hence, the note about attendance above).
Submitted by Monica Dombrowski on 08/07/2020